Dear friends,
Akbar Ilahbadi or Allahabadi(1846-1921) was a great Urdu poet. He was master of pun and sarcasm. He lived during time of Sir Syed Ahmed a great educationist and reformist. Akbar was not warm to Sir Syed’s ideas; Akbar was a conservative and was critical of foreign culture.
Here is his famous Ghazal that was sung by an equally famous singer Ghulam Ali. Till today it remains very popular. I have rendered it in three scripts and have provided meaning and translation of the verses for your enjoyment. The current Ghazal is very beautiful with deep meaning and, intricacy of symbolism and play on words. It may take hours discussing its details.
Hagama hai kyoN barpa, thoRi si jo pee lee hai
Hangama=commotion, uproar
Daka to nahiN Dala, chori to nahiN ki hai
Why there is uproar, for I just sipped a little wine
I didn’t commit stealing, neither did I waylay
Na tajruba-kari se, Wa’iz ki ye bateN haiN
na tajruba-kari= inexperience
Is rang ko kya jane, puchho to kabhi pee hai?
Cleric is inexperienced, so is his advice
How can he appreciate color of wine? Ask him if ever had it?
Oos mai se nahiN matlab, dil jis se hai begana
Begana=stranger, removed
Maqsood hai is mai se, dil hi meiN jo khinchti hai
Maqsood=intent
I do not yearn for that wine which has made my heart a stranger
My intent is that love-wine which oozes in heart
Ae shouq vahi mai pee, ae hosh zara so ja
Mehman nazar is dam, ek barq-e-tajjali hai
barq=lightening Tajalli= expose, shining appearance of Allah
Oh my passion! Have the same wine, oh my awareness, slumber
Right now my eyes’ guest is her unveiled shining face
VaaN, dil meiN ke sadmeN do, yaaN, jee meiN ke sab seh lo Sadma=shock, pain
Un ka bhi ajab dil hai, mera bhi ajab jee hai
Her heart plots shocks; I plan to bear everything
She has unique mind set, mine is a sublime way
Har zarra chamkta hai anvar-e-ilahi se
anvar-e-ilahi=Halo of Allah
Har saNs yeh kehti hai, hum haiN to Khuda bhi hai
Every particle shines from light borrowed from Allah
Yet, every life boasts, “God exists because of me”
Suraj meiN lage dhabba, fitrat ke karishme haiN
Fitrat=nature
B’ut hum ko kaheN kafir, Allah ki marzi hai
B’ut=idol, false God
The mighty sun gets a dark patch, it is nature’s magic
The false God is accusing me of being a Kefir; it is Allah’s will!
In Islam, idols are considered false Gods. Beloved is also called a diva or idol. Here poet has added pun False God is calling him a Kafir. Since every thing happens from will of God, so False God is calling poet a Kafir, must be Allah’s will. A beautiful verse.
Asghar Vasanwala can be reached at asgharf@att.net
Ghulam Ali singing: Hangama hai kyoN barpa by Akbar Ilah Abadi